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    22 Famous Actors Who Looked So Much Like The Historical Figures They Played, I Had To Do A Double Take

    Now, whenever I see a picture of Marilyn Monroe, I immediately see Ana de Armas.

    Lauren Garafano
    by Lauren Garafano

    BuzzFeed Staff

    1. This is Marilyn Monroe, an actor, singer, and sex symbol best known for embodying the "blonde bombshell" trope.

    Marilyn sitting on a couch wearing cropped pants and holding a book
    Alfred Eisenstaedt / The Life Picture Collection / Shutterstock

    Here's Ana de Armas as Marilyn in Blonde (2022).

    Ana sitting on a couch wearing cropped pants and holding a book
    Netflix

    And here's a side-by-side of Marilyn and Ana in the movie.

    Alfred Eisenstaedt / The Life Picture Collection / Shutterstock, Netflix

    2. This is Abraham Lincoln, the 16th president of the United States, whose accomplishments include issuing the Emancipation Proclamation, which freed enslaved people within the Confederacy.

    Abe Lincoln sitting in a chair
    Historical / Corbis via Getty Images

    Here's Daniel Day-Lewis as Abraham in the movie Lincoln (2012).

    Close-up of Daniel as Abe in a bow tie
    20thcentfox / Courtesy Everett Collection

    And here's a side-by-side of Abraham and Daniel in the movie.

    Historical / Corbis via Getty Images, 20thcentfox / Courtesy Everett Collection

    3. This is Elvis Presley, who was dubbed "the King of Rock 'n' Roll."

    Elvis Presley playing the guitar and singing
    Michael Ochs Archives / Getty Images

    Here's Austin Butler as Elvis in Elvis (2022).

    Austin Butler as Elvis Presley singing and playing the guitar
    Warner Bros.

    And here's a side-by-side of Elvis and Austin in the movie.

    Elvis singing and playing the guitar; Austin Butler singing and playing the guitar
    Getty Images, Warner Bros.

    4. This is Emily Dickinson, one of the most important figures in American poetry.

    A faded image of Emily
    Boston Globe / Boston Globe via Getty Images

    Here's Hailee Steinfeld as Emily on the TV show Dickinson (2019–21).

    Close-up of Hailee
    Apple TV+

    And here's a side-by-side of Emily and Hailee in the series.

    Boston Globe / Getty Images, Apple TV+

    5. This is Frida Kahlo, a Mexican painter best known for her portraits.

    Black-and-white photo of Frida resting her chin on her hand
    Getty Images

    Here's Salma Hayek as Frida in the movie Frida (2002).

    Close-up of Salma as Frida
    Miramax / Courtesy Everett Collection

    And here's a side-by-side of Frida and Salma in the movie.

    Getty Images, Miramax / Everett

    6. This is Salvador Dalí, a Spanish surrealist artist best known for his technical skill and precision.

    Black-and-white photo of Salvador as a young man in a suit, with a pencil mustache
    Donaldson Collection / Getty Images

    Here's Adrien Brody as Salvador in the movie Midnight in Paris (2011).

    Adrien as Salvador in a suit, with a pencil mustache
    Sony Pictures Classics / Everett

    And here's a side-by-side of Salvador and Adrien in the movie.

    Donaldson Collection / Getty Images, Sony Pictures Classics / Everett

    7. This is Jimi Hendrix, a singer, songwriter, guitarist, and "the most gifted instrumentalist of all time."

    Jimi Hendrix performing onstage
    David Redfern / Redferns / Getty Images

    Here's André 3000 as Jimi in the movie Jimi: All Is by My Side (2014).

    André 3000 dressed as Jimi Hendrix, playing guitar
    Open Road Films / Everett Collection

    And here's a side-by-side of Jimi and André in the movie.

    Jimi Hendrix playing guitar; André 3000 playing guitar as Jimi Hendrix
    Getty Images, Open Road Films / Everett

    8. This is Amelia Earhart, the first female aviator to fly solo over the Atlantic Ocean.

    Black-and-white photo of Amelia smiling
    Bettmann / Bettmann Archive / Getty Images

    And here's Hilary Swank as Amelia in the movie Amelia (2009).

    Hilary as Amelia in an airplane
    Fox Searchlight / Courtesy Everett Collection

    And here's a side-by-side of Amelia and Hilary in the movie.

    Bettmann / Getty Images, Fox Searchlight / Courtesy Everett Collection

    9. This is Ray Charles, a singer-songwriter, pianist, and composer often regarded as "the Genius."

    Ray Charles playing the piano
    Michael Ochs Archives / Getty Images

    Here's Jamie Foxx as Ray in the movie Ray (2004).

    Jamie Foxx as Ray Charles, singing
    Universal / Courtesy Everett Collection

    And here's a side-by-side of Ray and Jamie in the movie.

    Ray Charles; Jamie Foxx as Ray Charles
    Getty Images, Universal / Everett Collection

    10. This is Sharon Tate, an actor and model who was murdered by members of the Manson Family cult.

    Sharon in a blouse
    Getty Images

    Here's Margot Robbie as Sharon in the movie Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019).

    Margot as Sharon in a turtleneck
    Andrew Cooper / Columbia Pictures / Everett Collection

    And here's a side-by-side of Sharon and Margot in the movie.

    Getty Images, Columbia

    11. This is Coco Chanel, a French fashion designer and namesake for the brand Chanel.

    Black-and-white photo of Coco perching on the arm of a couch and wearing a fur coat with her arms folded
    Keystone-France / Gamma-Keystone via Getty Images

    Here's Audrey Tautou as Coco in the movie Coco Before Chanel (2009).

    Close-up of Audrey as Coco in a checkered coat
    Sony Pictures / Courtesy Everett Collection

    And here's a side-by-side of Coco and Audrey in the movie.

    Keystone-France / Gamma-Keystone via Getty Images, Sony Pictures / Courtesy Everett Collection

    12. This is Muhammad Ali, a professional boxer who has been dubbed the greatest heavyweight of all time.

    A black-and-white photo of a bare-chested Ali with his arms folded and wearing boxing gloves
    The Stanley Weston Archive / Getty Images

    Here's Eli Goree as Muhammad in the movie One Night in Miami (2020).

    A bare-chested Eli as Ali in the ring
    Prime Video

    And here's a side-by-side of Muhammad and Eli in the movie.

    The Stanley Weston Archive / Getty Images, Prime Video

    13. This is Jackie Robinson, the first Black baseball player to play in the major leagues.

    Black-and-white photo of Jackie in a Dodgers uniform
    Bettmann / Bettmann Archive / Getty Images

    Here's Chadwick Boseman as Jackie Robinson in the film 42 (2013).

    Chadwick in a Dodgers uniform
    Warner Bros. / Courtesy Everett Collection

    And here's a side-by-side of Jackie and Chadwick in the movie.

    Bettmann / Bettmann Archive / Getty Images, Warner Bros. / Courtesy Everett Collection

    14. This is Babe Ruth, who was the single most famous baseball player in the entire world.

    Black-and-white close-up of Babe in a baseball uniform
    Bettmann / Bettmann Archive / Getty Images

    Here's John Goodman as Babe in the movie The Babe (1992).

    Close-up of John in a baseball uniform and holding a bat
    Universal / Courtesy Everett Collection

    And here's a side-by-side of Babe and John in the movie.

    Bettmann / Bettmann Archive / Getty Images, Universal / Courtesy Everett Collection

    15. This is Virginia Woolf, an English writer who has been dubbed the most important modernist writer of the 20th century.

    Black-and-white photo of VIrginia
    Evening Standard / Getty Images

    Here's Nicole Kidman as Virginia in the movie The Hours (2002).

    Nicole as Virginia with her hair up and wearing a flower-print outfit
    Paramount / Courtesy Everett Collection

    And here's a side-by-side of Virginia and Nicole in the movie.

    Evening Standard / Getty Images, Paramount / Courtesy Everett Collection

    16. This is Charlie Chaplin, a comedian, actor, and filmmaker who gained fame during the era of silent film.

    Black-and-white photo of Charlie with a small mustache
    Archive Photos / Getty Images

    Here's Robert Downey Jr. as Charlie in the movie Chaplin (1992).

    Robert in a black-and-white photo as Charlie with a small mustache and holding a hat
    Tristar Pictures / Courtesy Everett Collection

    And here's a side-by-side of Charlie and Robert in the movie.

    Archive Photos / Getty Images, Tristar Pictures / Courtesy Everett Collection

    17. This is Nelson Mandela, a South African anti-apartheid activist who also became the country's first Black head of state and first president.

    Nelson in a suit and smiling with his fist raised
    Louise Gubb / Corbis via Getty Images

    Here's Morgan Freeman as Nelson in the movie Invictus (2009).

    Morgan as Nelson in a suit and smiling
    Warner Bros. / Courtesy Everett Collection

    And here's a side-by-side of Nelson and Morgan in the movie.

    Louise Gubb / Corbis via Getty Images, Warner Bros. / Courtesy Everett Collection

    18. This is Malcolm X, a Muslim minister and human rights activist best known for his work during the American civil rights movement.

    Black-and-white photo of Malcolm wearing glasses and a suit and bow tie and standing at a podium
    Richard Saunders / Getty Images

    Here's Denzel Washington as Malcolm in the movie Malcolm X (1992).

    Denzel as Malcolm wearing glasses and a suit and bow tie and standing at a podium
    Warner Bros. / Courtesy Everett Collection

    And here's a side-by-side of Malcolm and Denzel in the movie.

    Getty Images, Warner Bros. / Courtesy Everett Collection

    19. This is Alfred Hitchcock, an influential filmmaker known for iconic thriller movies like Psycho, The Birds, and Vertigo.

    Side view of Alfred
    Bettmann / Bettmann Archive / Getty Images

    Here's Anthony Hopkins as Alfred in the movie Hitchcock (2012).

    Side view of Anthony as Alfred
    Fox Searchlight / Courtesy Everett Collection

    And here's a side-by-side of Alfred and Anthony in the movie.

    Bettmann / Bettmann Archive / Getty Images, Fox Searchlight / Courtesy Everett Collection

    20. This is Harvey Milk, the first openly gay man elected to public office in California.

    Black-and-white photo of Harvey smiling
    Bettmann / Bettmann Archive / Getty Images

    Here's Sean Penn as Harvey in the movie Milk (2008).

    Sean as Harvey smiling
    Focus Features / Courtesy Everett Collection

    And here's a side-by-side of Harvey and Sean in the movie.

    Bettmann / Bettmann Archive / Getty Images, Focus Features / Courtesy Everett Collection

    21. This is Dalton Trumbo, a screenwriter who was blacklisted because of his support for the Communist Party.

    Black-and-white photo of Dalton with a bird resting on his chest
    John Swope / Getty Images

    Here's Bryan Cranston as Dalton in the movie Trumbo (2015).

    Bryan as Dalton with a bird perched on his hand
    Bleecker Street Media / Courtesy Everett Collection

    And here's a side-by-side of Dalton and Bryan in the movie.

    John Swope / Getty Images, Bleecker Street Media / Courtesy Everett Collection

    22. And finally, this is Margaret Thatcher, the UK's first female prime minister and the longest-serving British prime minister of the 20th century.

    Margaret sitting on a couch and wearing a suit
    Bettmann / Bettmann Archive / Getty Images

    Here's Meryl Streep as Margaret in the movie The Iron Lady (2011).

    Meryl as Margaret in a suit with police officers behind her
    Weinstein Co. / Courtesy Everett Collection

    And here's a side-by-side of Margaret and Meryl in the movie.

    Bettmann / Bettmann Archive / Getty Images, Weinstein Co. / Courtesy Everett Collection
    The movie Fall: Now on digital on Blu-Ray and DVD Oct 18
    Lionsgate

    Get your heart pumping with Fall, a new thriller that will take you to terrifying heights. Watch it on demand right now, and on DVD/Blu-ray on Oct. 18.